The diagnostic value of plasma cytokines and nasal eosinophils in allergic rhinitis
10.3760/cma.j.cn114452-20250207-00062
- VernacularTitle:血浆细胞因子及鼻腔嗜酸性粒细胞在过敏性鼻炎中的诊断价值
- Author:
Yu SONG
1
;
Xiangyi LIU
Author Information
1. 首都医科大学附属北京同仁医院鼻过敏科，北京100730
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Cytokines;
Allergic rhinitis;
Eosinophil;
Diagnosis
- From:
Chinese Journal of Laboratory Medicine
2025;48(6):707-714
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To explore the clinical value in the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis (AR) by analyzing levels of 12 cytokines in plasma and nasal local eosinophil in patients with AR and non-allergic rhinitis (NAR), and to construct a diagnostic model based on logistic regression, providing a novel method for rapid and precise diagnosis of AR.Methods:A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on patients with AR symptoms who underwent plasma cytokine testing at Beijing Tongren Hospital from January 1 to December 31, 2024. Patients were grouped based on serological test results into AR Group ( n=395) and NAR Group ( n=185), including 205 children (<18 years) and 375 adults (≥18 years). Plasma levels of 12 cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12P70, IL-17A, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-α, and IFN-γ, were measured using multiplex microsphere flow cytometric immunofluorescence. Nasal eosinophil levels were assessed through nasal secretion cell testing. Clinical characteristics of AR and NAR patient population were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U test, and the correlations between cytokine levels and nasal eosinophils was analyzed using Spearman′s test. Logistic regression was used to screen predictors and to construct an AR diagnosis model, whose predictive ability and efficacy were demonstrated through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and nomograms. Results:Significant differences were observed in total IgE (tIgE) and Phadiatop (Phad) between AR and NAR patients in both children ( U=?7.799, P<0.001; U=?8.296, P<0.001) and adults ( U=?12.630, P<0.001; U=?13.810, P<0.001). Nasal eosinophil levels were higher in AR patients ( Z=?4.592, P<0.001) compared with that in NAR patients. In children, significant differences were found in IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10 levels between AR and NAR patients ( P<0.05), while in adults, only IL-10 levels differed significantly ( P<0.05). Nasal local eosinophil levels were weakly positively correlated with plasma IL-5 ( ρ=0.166, P<0.001) and IFN-γ ( ρ=0.132, P=0.002). Based on logistic regression, the adult AR diagnosis model included age, local eosinophil levels, and IL-10, with an AUC of 0.709, sensitivity of 73.9%, and specificity of 57.4%, outperforming single-indicator diagnosis. High and moderate eosinophil levels were risk factors for AR(compared with low levels: moderate level OR=3.072, P<0.001; compared with high level OR=15.136, P<0.001), while age and IL-10 levels were protective factors (age OR=0.572, P=0.002; IL-10 OR=0.535, P=0.003). Conclusions:AR patients exhibit an immune response characterized by increased T helper 2 cell (Th2) cytokines (IL-4, IL-5) and decreased IL-10, with significantly higher nasal local eosinophils levels than NAR patients. The logistic regression model based on age, local eosinophil level, and IL-10 provides a new tool for the precise diagnosis of AR.
